Where's Inuyasha?
"So how far do you think they got?" Miroku asked. He and Sango rose early and after a few heated kisses decided to go join their friends for breakfast.
"Not far unless something came up. Look there's a village, let's check there first."
Shippo and Myoga had woken alone, at first; they didn't think anything of it. Inuyasha and Kagome were always running off to be alone these days but two hours had passed and no sign of them. Finally, Shippo spotted Kirara in the sky. He started yelling and throwing acorns to get their attention.
"I wonder where Inuyasha and Kagome are. Maybe they found a lead on Naraku." Sango said as Kirara landed. Immediately Shippo and Myoga hopped on Miroku.
"Where have you been? Where are Kagome and Inuyasha? Did they meet up with you? Are they chasing a jewel shard, a demon?"
"Whoa there Shippo! What's wrong? You know we went after Kohaku and we left Inuyasha with you. Do you mean he's not here?" Miroku frowned as he looked around. There was no sign of either Kagome or Inuyasha.
"Lord Inuyasha and Kagome were gone when we woke up. At first we thought they had gone off to be alone but it's been hours. While they would probably leave me behind," Myoga huffed, "I don't think they'd leave Shippo like this without a word."
Miroku held the flea on his palm and silently agreed with him. What on earth could have dragged them away without a word? "How about we ask around the village? You checked out the village yesterday right? Well then they should remember Inuyasha."
Sango calmed Shippo down and they packed up the things Kagome had left behind and set off into the village. Of course they all remembered the silver-haired young man with dog ears but no one had seen him since the previous afternoon. They were getting discouraged when finally and old man spoke up.
"Yes, I saw him last night. I couldn't sleep so I was up walking around and that's when I saw him. He was holding that girl with the strange clothes, she seemed asleep and talking to another girl dressed like a priestess. I didn't want to intrude so I walked a different way and that was the last I saw of either of them. Does that help? Did something happen?" The old man looked worried.
"No, I sure everything is fine, we just haven't seen our friends this morning. Thank you for all your help." Sango patted his shoulder and bowed. Quickly they moved away to talk in private.
"It sounds like Kikyo." Sango said.
"Yes it does. Myoga, you said you saw her before you found us, is that right?"
"Why yes, I did." The little flea was sitting on Shippo's head.
"Did she seem to be searching for us? Maybe she had some news to tell us." Miroku rested his finger against his chin.
"What if something was wrong with Kagome? The old man said Inuyasha was carrying her. What if Kikyo had done something to her?" Shippo was getting worried.
"Let's not jump to conclusions Shippo." Sango didn't want him overly upset but she was thinking the same thing. Kikyo hadn't been around since Inuyasha and Kagome got together, might she have done something when she found out?
"Okay, we know Kikyo was here and now the three of them are gone. Let's just assume they are together. I suggest we wait until tomorrow and give them a chance to return and then head out looking for them." Miroku couldn't believe anything really bad had happened; they were probably tracking Naraku and would return shortly.
"Miroku are you sure? I mean Kikyo can be unpredictable, should we just sit around and wait? Maybe we can find their tracks and catch up to them."
"Yeah! I wanna go look for them too. I'm worried about Kagome."
Miroku looked at them and saw they really were worried, he sighed, and in fact he didn't want to sit around waiting either. "Okay, let's see if we can find what direction they went in. I just hope we don't interrupt something."
"Well if we do it's their fault for not telling us anything!" Shippo yelled.
"Alright Shippo, that's enough. Let's just start searching."
They searched and searched but no trace could be found of them. There were no tracks leading into the forest and none towards the village. It seemed as if they had just disappeared.
"Okay, now we know something's wrong. Even Inuyasha leaves some tracks and if not him then Kagome would." Miroku turned to look at his companions. Sango cradling Kirara and Shippo with Myoga riding along was pacing back and forth.
"What are we gonna do? What happened to them?" Shippo hopped down and started to hit himself over the head.
"Hey, hang on there." Miroku squatted down to stop the little demon. "Just because we can't find a trace of them doesn't mean we're not going to search for them." He looked up at Sango. "Right Sango? We'll just start looking and before you know it, we'll find them. Maybe they'll even find us first."
Sango joined in to reassure Shippo. "That's right, as soon as we start looking, they'll show up like nothing happened. Come on, we'll see if Kirara can pick up their scent."
"Yeah, Kirara can help, she'll find them." Shippo said hopefully.
Miroku walked away to pick up Kagome's backpack and that's when Myoga spoke up. "Do you think Lady Kikyo took them? Coreced them away?"
"It's hard to say, maybe she came asking for their help but I don't think so. All Kagome's things are here and if she'd gone to help, she'd have taken her bow and arrows. Something's going on, something bad."
"I think I'll ride on my friend the crow and take a look. If I find them, I'll send the crow back to you." Myoga didn't like battle but he was worried about his young master. In his own way he did what he could to help and protect him.
"Good idea Myoga, hope to see you soon." Miroku watched as the flea disappeared into the forest.
Koga breathed a sigh of relief when he caught their scents. He'd run with Kagome all day long and it was just now twilight. When he hadn't found them immediately after leaving that place a fear had grown in his gut – maybe they'd all been killed and that's why Kagome was all alone but it seems her friends were alive and well. But where was Inuyasha? There was no trace of his scent here either. If he'd gotten into trouble and left Kagome to fend for herself, he'd tear him a new one!
"Hey! We need some help here!" Koga skidded to a halt just before the fire.
"Koga! You have Kagome!"
"Where's Inuyasha?"
"Kagome! What's wrong with Kagome?"
Everyone was talking at the same time, surprised that Koga had showed up with Kagome. Sango finally stepped forward and looked at Kagome.
"Oh no, Kagome. She looks awful. Put her over here." Quickly she laid out Kagome's sleeping bag and moved to the side so Koga could put her down. Sango felt Kagome's forehead and it was warm to the touch. "Shippo! Go get some water; we need to cool her down."
Shaky, Shippo nodded and hurried off to the stream. Miroku stood over the women with a frown on his face, he turned to Koga. "What about Inuyasha? Is he in bad shape too? What happened? I assume the three of you must have run into trouble?"
"What are you talking about? I haven't seen the Mutt. I found Kagome alone and in tears in an old forest. It looked like the type of place Naraku would hide so I went to check it out but all I found was Kagome. There was no trace of Inuyasha."
Sango and Miroku looked at each other, worry on their faces. Kagome alone and no Inuyasha.
"San-go? My head – need pills." Kagome managed to say. Her head moved slowly to one side as pain spiked through her temples.
"Yes, of course." Hurriedly Sango got the first aid kit and found the pain killers. They helped Kagome to sit up and got the pills in her. After applying a cold compress and leaving Shippo to watch her Sango, Miroku and Koga moved away to talk.
"Can you tell me what's going on?" Koga looked from one to the other as they exchanged worried glances.
"Well, we – separated yesterday and were supposed to meet up with Kagome and Inuyasha this morning but when we arrived, Shippo was alone. Sometime in the night Inuyasha and Kagome took off. We thought they must have gone to fight a demon or something but we couldn't find their trail." Miroku began the explanation.
"Yes but then we asked around and were told that Lady Kikyo had been seen talking to them before they disappeared. Now it looks like…like she may have something to do with their disappearance." Sango looked over at Kagome.
"Wait, who in the hell is this Kikyo and why would she hurt Kagome?" Koga demanded and looked to Miroku for the answer.
"Oh that's right; you've never come in contact with Lady Kikyo." Miroku grimaced and scratched his head. "Well – Kikyo is Kagome."
"Say what? How can they be the same person? You're not making any sense." Koga was starting to pace.
"Actually Kagome is Kikyo. Kagome is Kikyo's reincarnation. They look alike and have basically the same powers only Kikyo is dead."
"Look I'm going to hit you if you don't start making sense, monk! How can she be dead and hurt Kagome?"
"Miroku you'd better let me tell it or Koga's going to pummel you." Sango finally spoke up. She explained about how Kagome was Kikyo's reincarnation and how Kikyo had been brought back from the dead by Urasue to seek the sacred jewels.
"Okay, I get that much but you still haven't explained why she would want to hurt Kagome. Wouldn't that be like hurting herself? Damn this is confusing."
"Well, a long time ago Kikyo and Inuyasha were in love but Naraku tricked them and made them believe each had betrayed the other and they both…died. Now Kikyo wants Inuyasha to join her in death…" Sango was worried about telling Koga the whole story.
"At least that's what we last knew she wanted." Miroku said.
"Yes only now Inuyasha loves Kagome and she…him." Sango backed up some as she said this because she knew Koga also had feelings for Kagome. "Kikyo might have found out they're in love and decided to do something about it."
Koga had turned to look at Kagome but looked back at Sango. "What is it about that mutt! There are two women who like him but they're the same woman! Ahhhh!" Koga threw up his hands walking back and forth. "And who says Kagome loves Inuyasha, huh? I don't believe it!"
"Whether you believe it or not it's true and if Kikyo has found out and decided to interfere – things could get ugly." Said Miroku as he sat down. "Obviously something has happened between the three of them and Kagome was left to wander alone in the forest. That can't mean good news for Inuyasha."
"And just what did she do to Kagome? She looks to be in so much pain." Sango fretted.
"I don't give a damn about what happens to Inuyasha. He can have the dead woman and I'll take care of Kagome. What kind of man is he any way, not protecting her from his Ex?"
"You shouldn't underestimate Lady Kikyo, Koga. Her powers are formidable; we've come up against them in the past and just barely got away from her." Miroku didn't want Koga to go getting himself in trouble.
"Oh don't you worry. I've got no cause to pick a fight with this Kikyo as long as Kagome is okay. As far as Inuyasha's concerned, he can stay missing."
"That's all well and good to say Koga but you know Kagome cares for Inuyasha and when she's feeling better, she'll want to go looking for him. Are you saying you won't help if she asks?" Sango tilted her head at him.
"Man! Why does everything always have to be about Inuyasha? He causes nothing but trouble." Koga gestured wildly.
"Sometimes but he's a good friend too. He's saved your life more than once and not always because Kagome asked him to. Are you going to let Inuyasha be the bigger man or are you going to sulk and do nothing?" Miroku smiled slightly as he watched Koga.
Koga was still pacing and muttering under his breath. He was glad Inuyasha wasn't around but Kagome would be upset if he didn't help find him. Koga growled. "Yeah, I'll help look for the mutt but I'm not going to like it!"
"Thanks Koga. I'm sure Kagome will say the same thing when she wakes." Sango got up to go check on her.
"We should just stay here until morning and hear what Kagome has to say. Where are Ginta and Hakkaku? We could probably use their help too?"
"Don't count on it. I left them behind a day or so ago. It'll be awhile before those slackers show up."
"Well let's just try and get some sleep tonight. I have a feeling tomorrow's going to be a long day." Miroku stood and followed by Koga they went back to the fire.
Koga's not a happy wolf - Inuyasha and Kagome in love? No way!
So any comments?Guesses as to what Kikyo is doing?